Tough times can bring out the best in us, both as individuals and as a collective group. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to rise to the occasion or pitch in for the greater good. In fact, nearly every natural or social disaster is accompanied by a rise in scams and other forms of crime.

As we’ve seen in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic is no different. While most businesses and individuals are doing their part to keep everyone safe, thieves are hard at work looking for ways to exploit the situation for their own gain.

Thankfully, Covid-19 themed scams haven’t been widespread so far, but they are out there. Here are a few you should look out for…

Fake IT Technicians and Cleaners 

As unimaginable as it might seem, we’ve seen reports of thieves dressing up as IT technicians to gain entry into homes and offices. Some have also tried to impersonate cleaning services for the same reasons.

To avoid these kinds of scams, make sure your team knows to verify scheduled service visits and check credentials carefully. Also be wary of anyone who shows up at your business offering to sell products or services that you’ve never heard of, even if they claim to make you safer. Always think twice before letting someone into your facility, giving them access to sensitive information, or writing a check.

Phishing Emails

Phishing scams are all about trying to get you to share privileged information (and particularly credit card or tax ID numbers) by setting up fake websites and email addresses. They’ve been around for a while, but the current pandemic is giving thieves new angles and topics to work with.

Financial institutions and major corporations rarely ask for anything via email, so be wary.

If you get an email asking you to “verify your account” or change your password because of the Covid-19 pandemic, don’t click the link. Instead, contact your bank or other provider directly to see if there is an issue that needs to be resolved. 

New Ransomware Attacks

Like phishing schemes, ransomware has been with us for a while. But, with so many employees and business owners working from home – on new devices, or with new software – the risk of infection has increased.

The best way to protect yourself and your company from ransomware is to avoid sketchy websites and attachments (while ensuring your employees do the same). However, you may also want to invest in added security for your business network and any devices that are going to be connected.

Need an IT Provider You Can Trust?

When you have great tech support and managed services options, you and your team are free to focus on your business, but finding the right partner to work with can be more difficult than it seems.

If you want to work with the best – which includes a reputation for honesty and reliability – we can help. Contact the Fantastic IT sales team today to learn more about what we can do to keep your business running smoothly in 2020 and beyond.